Ice addict stole bowls club's ride-on, assaulted worker

AN APPRENTICE plumber coming down on the drug ice stole a bowls club's ride-on lawn mower and assaulted a staff member with a screwdriver when confronted about the theft.

Jaiden Douglas Hargrave told police he believed at the time the worker had been trying to kill him.

The 24-year-old faced the District Court in Mackay on Friday via videolink from prison.

Hargrave pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery with personal violence, break and enter and stealing, car theft and two counts of stealing, which occurred on April 6 last year, while he was on parole.

He said a staff member at Mackay Northern Beaches Bowls Club in Rural View had spotted Hargrave on the club's ride-on about 6.30am on the day.

"He came up to you and asked what you were doing. You said 'I'm riding on my ride-on mower'. You then claimed you were doing work experience," Judge Smith said.

"He said they didn't have anyone doing work experience and then you pulled off your T-shirt and wrapped it around your head ... He called 000, you jumped off the mower and ran past him.

"You got into the driver's seat and closed the door (of a van). He opened the door and tried to grab the keys out of the ignition. You pushed him away and there was a struggle between the two of you ... you lunged at him and pushed him to the ground, threw punches at his head."

A second staff member arrived and tried to assist the first worker, who had caught Hargrave in a headlock.

Judge Smith said Hargrave "grabbed a screwdriver and thrusted it", striking the first worker a number of times.

Hargrave then rifled through the bag of the second employee, stole keys and drove off in her car.

Police found Hargrave in Andergrove soon after, near the abandoned vehicle.

Hargrave initially claimed he had been, "punched in the head, gouged in your eyes and choked" and that the worker had tried to kill him.

But in court Hargrave apologised for his actions through his lawyer and said he wanted to be a good role model for his young son in future.

Mr McLennan said Hargrave had reacted poorly to a relationship breakdown and became immersed in drugs, and ice (methamphetamines) in particular.

Hargraves was working long hours in the metal shop in prison, where he had already served 315 days.

Judge Smith took into account Hargrave's early guilty plea and time already served.

Hargrave was convicted and sentenced to three years and two months jail, with immediate parole eligibility.

*Correction: Hargrave's offending took place at a bowls club, not a golf club as originally indicated.